It's no surprise that at the end of this latest PGA Tour season it was Rory McIlroy ultimately hosting the FedEx Cup, considering the statistically dominant campaign the Northern Irishman put together.

Though his three-win season might not appear at the top of his career highlights - the major championship triumphs in 2012 and 2014 may never be matched - it nevertheless culminated in one of the best statical campaigns of his heralded career.

After lifting the FedEx Cup for the third time, the first player in Tour history to do so, McIlroy capped off a season that saw him earn his fourth scoring average title, at 68.67, the only player on the PGA Tour to finish with a sub-69 average (the overall average for the 2021-22 season was 71.092).

Only Vijay Singh (2003) and Tiger Woods (eight different times) have matched McIlroy with a season-long average below 68.7.

McIlroy's six-shot comeback over Scottie Scheffler at the Tour Championship also cemented the 33-year-old’s fourth season of at least three wins, as he also jumpstarted his campaign with a victory at the CJ Cup before claiming the RBC Canadian Open midway through the year.

"I'm back to playing the golf that I'm used to playing, and the golf that I know that I can play," McIlroy said prior to the FedEx St. Jude Championship. "COVID was a weird time for everyone, and then coming out of it and going into the 2021 season, with my swing where it was, I was trying to change a couple of things and was going down a path I realised wasn't the path for me. [I'm] coming back out of that and now getting back to playing the golf I know I can play."

The late-season rise was in no doubt due to McIlroy's impressive resurgence across several aspects of his game. After ending The Masters ranked next-to-last among 209 TOUR players in average proximity from 50 to 125 yards (24 feet, one inch), McIlroy went on a tear that saw him close out the season with an average of 14 feet, one inch, best among all players with more than 30 attempts in that span.

But that wasn’t the only area where he’s upped his play. McIlroy ranked No. 131 in scrambling percentage last season, only to finish 30th this year, while also improving more than 50 spots in Strokes Gained: Around the Green (63rd in 2020-21 to 12th this season). Perhaps most importantly, the 22-time PGA Tour winner was 16th for Strokes Gained: Putting per round, after he finished 66th in 2021 and 122nd in 2019-20.

McIlroy ended the season ranked inside the top-50 in all four primary Strokes Gained categories (off-the-tee, approach the green, around the green and putting), only the second time he's done that, joining the 2018-19 season. That season he also won the TOUR Championship and RBC Canadian Open, along with The Players Championship.

"This year feels very similar to the way I played in 2019," he said. "It's a carbon copy in terms of the consistency and the numbers and the strokes gained numbers, but my finishes in the majors have been better and that's been – that's been a real positive looking ahead into next year and the future."

CANTLAY REPEATS

Before McIlroy hoisted the PGA Tour's ultimate prize, all eyes were on Patrick Cantlay for a potential repeat.

Last season's FedEx Cup champion was primed to go back-to-back after he became the first player to successfully defend a Playoffs event since their 2007 inception. At the BMW Championship, the 30-year-old birdied the 17th at Wilmington Country Club to hold off Scott Stallings in a one-shot victory, his second win at the event in as many years.

A year ago, Cantlay survived in a six-hole playoff at Maryland's Caves Valley Golf Club to win the BMW Championship, before sealing the FedEx Cup with a one-shot win over Jon Rahm.

"I think every time I've tried to defend, I don't think I've been able to do it, but it's something that you definitely circle on your calendar as something you want to do," Cantlay said. "These golf courses reminded me a lot of each other, and I was glad not to go six holes in a playoff."

Much like a season ago, it was largely the putter that lifted Cantlay to a post-season victory. Over the last two FedEx Cup Playoffs, Cantlay is +18.39 in total Strokes Gained: Putting, the most of any player.

The BMW Championship was a microcosm of that, as Cantlay was ranked 49th of 67 players in the third round, losing 1.493 strokes to the field. But after a late-night putting session, the Californian ranked 10th in Sunday’s final round, gaining 1.628 strokes on the field. He was a perfect 10-for-10 on Sunday putting inside 3 feet, after missing one in 13 attempts the day before. He was 16-for-17 from inside 10 feet on Sunday and just 15 for 20 on Saturday.

ZALATORIS BREAKS THROUGH

Fans have been anxiously awaiting Will Zalatoris’s first trip to the PGA Tour winner's circle, after heart-aching playoff losses this year at the Farmers Insurance Open and PGA Championship.

Viewers finally got their wish in the first leg of the FedExCup Playoffs, as the young 26-year-old poured in a clutch par at the last to force extra holes with Sepp Straka. He ultimately outlasted the Austrian on the third playoff hole.

"It's kind of hard to say 'about time' when it's your second year on Tour, but about time," Zalatoris joked. "Obviously this was a grind considering the start that I had. I love this golf course, I played well here last year. Considering all the close finishes that I've had this year, to finally pull it off, it means a lot."

The budding superstar led the field in both Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green (+1.93) and Tee-to-Green (+2.35), becoming just the second player to lead both at the FedEx St. Jude Championship (Dustin Johnson, 2020).

All the more impressive was that he finished the first round at one over, the highest score to par after the opening round by a winner at the FedEx St Jude Championship. The previous worst opening round by a winner? Vijay Singh, who was one under after 18 holes in 2008.

Zalatoris was tied for 86th after the first round, marking the lowest position by a winner after the opening round of the playoffs (McIlroy previously held the honor, sitting at T67 after the opening round of the 2016 Dell Technologies Championship). 

Erling Haaland described his start to life in the Premier League as "amazing" after hitting his second consecutive hat-trick to make history in Manchester City's 6-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest.

Haaland – who scored a match-winning treble against Crystal Palace on Saturday – needed just 38 minutes to clinch a perfect hat-trick as Forest wilted on Wednesday, taking him to nine goals in his first five Premier League outings.

That tally represents a new competition record, bettering the eight-goal hauls managed by Sergio Aguero and Micky Quinn at the start of their Premier League careers.

City, meanwhile, have scored 18 goals across their opening five matches, the highest tally in their league history. The last side to exceed 18 goals after five matches at the start of a Premier League season was Manchester United in 2011-12 (21 goals).

Haaland has scored at the remarkable rate of a goal every 43 minutes since arriving at the Etihad Stadium, and is the first player to score hat-tricks in back-to-back Premier League games since Harry Kane in December 2017.

Speaking to BT Sport after the dominant win, Haaland said: "It's amazing. Nothing more to say. It's been good so far, I'm not complaining!

"It was about making sure we kept doing what we did in the second half against Palace, and just to play, play, play, play and play. We knew there was going to be chances, and it was nice.

"I try to listen as much as I can to Pep and to play with the boys because they're amazing footballers and without them, I would not be able to score goals.

"So it's about finding chemistry, playing together, and listening to Pep [Guardiola].

"It's fantastic, that's why I came here. You can see we play so good, we find each other and we will become even better, so it's going to be nice.

"It's important to keep going, it's going to be a lot of games so it's important to keep going and to enjoy as much as we can."

While Haaland stole the show with his remarkable display of finishing, fellow City striker Julian Alvarez also enjoyed a landmark outing, scoring two goals on his first Premier League start.

Alvarez is the seventh Argentinian to score on his first Premier League start, and the first to do so more than once, and is targeting more than a bit-part role in Guardiola's side.

Speaking to the BBC, Alvarez stated his belief he could form an effective partnership with Haaland, saying: "Obviously I'm very happy for the team performance, and for my two goals, and getting that reception from all the fans.

"I think it's not me or Erling, we can play together in the starting eleven. We fit together, which is good for the team.

"Some things are similar from Argentina, like the ball pressing, but the Premier League is faster, I have to adapt to that. My team-mates help me and I am super grateful for that."

After years of coming up short, an insatiable hunger drove Ashley Khalil to her first ever Caribbean Senior Squash Singles title in Jamaica last week.

Andy Murray believes he is in his best physical shape for years after he made the third round of the US Open for the first time since 2016 on Wednesday.

Murray dropped the first set against American wildcard Emilio Nava, but the Scot powered back to win 5-7 6-3 6-1 6-0 in New York.

He will face 13th seed Matteo Berrettini in the last 32 on Friday, and the 35-year-old has his sights set on a lengthy run at Flushing Meadows.

"Physically this is the best I've felt in the last few years," he said. "My movement is by far the best it's been in a long time.

"I'm getting closer to where I want to be and hopefully I can have a deep run here."

Murray reunited with coach Ivan Lendl for the third time earlier this year – a decision he cites for his improved form.

"There's a lot of belief in the relationship because of results we've had in the past," he added.

"I trust that if I play with a game style he wants me to that will bring me success.

"It gives me confidence. He knows what it takes to win and perform well at this tournament. It's great to have him back."

Speaking about his next opponent, Berrettini, Murray said: "He's had a bit of an unlucky year.

"I know he got Covid at the beginning of Wimbledon. When he has been on the court he's done really well.

"We played a tough three-set match in Stuttgart. I'm expecting it to be really difficult but if I play well and my return's on point then I've got a good chance."

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted the club will be looking for a late recruit in the transfer window after suffering injury setbacks.

The Gunners maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa on Wednesday, with Gabriel Martinelli scoring the winner just 151 seconds after Douglas Luiz's equaliser.

Arteta was forced to change his starting ranks in midfield for the second game in a row though, with Mohamed Elneny having suffered an injury in Saturday's 2-1 win against Fulham.

Elneny's setback came after Thomas Partey was ruled out of action through injury, with Arteta having to turn to Albert Sambi Lokonga for the midweek test against Villa.

With Premier League tests a plenty and the Europa League group stages crammed in before the start of the World Cup in Qatar, squads will be stretched to their limits and that may spark late activity in the transfer market.

Arsenal could now be involved in the closing stages of the window, with Arteta admitting after the game the injury to Elneny looks set to keep the Egypt international out for an extended period.

"Obviously it has an impact because Thomas is injured as well and we’re a bit short in that position," he said in the post-match press conference.

"We have players like Sambi, we have players like Granit [Xhaka] who can play there. The club has been super supportive to keep improving the squad and the team as we can, and if the right player is available and we can do it, we will try."

Arsenal had further injury worries during the game with captain Martin Odegaard forced off with a knock and Arteta was unsure on the severity of the problem, adding: "He got a bad kick and it’s swollen. Still unclear how bad it is," he added.

The Gunners have been attributed with an interest in a number of midfielders heading into deadline day, with Palmieras' Danilo and Leicester City's Youri Tielemans among them.

A goal in the 98th minute from substitute Fabio Carvalho gave Liverpool a dramatic 2-1 win against Newcastle United at Anfield on Wednesday.

Newcastle debutant Alexander Isak, playing just hours after receiving his work permit, had given his new team a first-half lead with a fine finish, only for Roberto Firmino to equalise in the second half.

It looked like more dropped points for Jurgen Klopp's side as the game ticked into stoppage time, but a late corner caused a goalmouth scramble, which ended in Carvalho scoring for the second time in a week.

Eddie Howe will be disappointed with the result but would have been pleased with the efforts of his team, who were missing key players Bruno Guimaraes and Allan Saint-Maximin.

Isak had the first shot for the visitors as he cut inside Trent Alexander-Arnold and Fabinho before lifting his effort high and wide of Alisson's far post, with Ryan Fraser also having a shot from the edge of the box that flew in the same direction.

Liverpool saw most of the ball in the first half but had to wait until the 34th minute for their first real chance after Firmino found Luis Diaz down the middle, only for the winger to miss the target from an angle after rounding Nick Pope.

Newcastle took the lead seven minutes before half-time when a Jordan Henderson clearance could only find Sean Longstaff, whose through ball picked out Isak to finish emphatically as he buried his shot into the top-left corner.

Isak had the ball in the net again early in the second half after good work on the counter attack but was marginally offside, and Liverpool were level shortly after as Firmino ran onto a Mohamed Salah pass from the right to sweep a shot into the bottom-left corner of the net.

It looked like a resolute Newcastle defence had held firm in the closing stages to secure a point, yet Salah nodded down to Carvalho from a corner, and the 20-year-old smashed the ball in off the crossbar from close range to send the home fans wild.

Paris Saint-Germain recovered from their blip against Monaco to ease to a 3-0 win at Toulouse.

The Ligue 1 champions were held to a 1-1 draw at the Parc des Princes on Sunday, but another surprise result was never on the cards in the south of France.

PSG dominated an open contest and would have won by a greater margin if not for a superb performance from Toulouse goalkeper Maxime Dupe.

But goals from Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Juan Bernat made if four wins from five for PSG, who have Marseille and Lens for company on 13 points at the top of the table.

A frantic opening to the match saw both goalkeepers consistently forced into action. Thijs Dallinga twice drew a save from Gianluigi Donnarumma while Dupe did well to deny Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. 

Messi then fired wide from a Nuno Mendes pullback before seeing another low effort turned behind by the impressive Dupe, who produced more fine reflexes to keep out Mbappe's deft near-post volley.

However, Dupe could do nothing to prevent Neymar rolling into the bottom-right corner after Marco Verratti and Messi linked up neatly, the goal initially disallowed for offside before VAR intervened and corrected the assistant referee.

PSG would have doubled their lead before half-time when Messi fashioned another opportunity, only for Dupe to prove equal to the close-range effort.

Dupe performed further heroics to claw out a vintage Messi free-kick but was eventually beaten again when Messi surged down the left, dropped his shoulder to send Mikkel Desler to the turf and teed up Mbappe for a simple finish.

Vitinha saw a curling effort kept out by the diving Dupe as his goal came under incessant pressure, with Mbappe frustrated again as his vicious effort clipped the crossbar before the Toulouse shot-stopper thwarted him once more at the end of quick break.

Mbappe did play a big role as PSG finally found a third, his long-range drive clattering the left-hand post and rebounding into the path of Bernat to rattle home.

Paris Saint-Germain recovered from their blip against Monaco to ease to a 3-0 win at Toulouse.

The Ligue 1 champions were held to a 1-1 draw at the Parc des Princes on Sunday, but another surprise result was never on the cards in the south of France.

PSG dominated an open contest and would have won by a greater margin if not for a superb performance from Toulouse goalkeper Maxime Dupe.

But goals from Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Juan Bernat made if four wins from five for PSG, who have Marseille and Lens for company on 13 points at the top of the table.

A frantic opening to the match saw both goalkeepers consistently forced into action. Thijs Dallinga twice drew a save from Gianluigi Donnarumma while Dupe did well to deny Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. 

Messi then fired wide from a Nuno Mendes pullback before seeing another low effort turned behind by the impressive Dupe, who produced more fine reflexes to keep out Mbappe's deft near-post volley.

However, Dupe could do nothing to prevent Neymar rolling into the bottom-right corner after Marco Verratti and Messi linked up neatly, the goal initially disallowed for offside before VAR intervened and corrected the assistant referee.

PSG would have doubled their lead before half-time when Messi fashioned another opportunity, only for Dupe to prove equal to the close-range effort.

Dupe performed further heroics to claw out a vintage Messi free-kick but was eventually beaten again when Messi surged down the left, dropped his shoulder to send Mikkel Desler to the turf and teed up Mbappe for a simple finish.

Vitinha saw a curling effort kept out by the diving Dupe as his goal came under incessant pressure, with Mbappe frustrated again as his vicious effort clipped the crossbar before the Toulouse shot-stopper thwarted him once more at the end of quick break.

Mbappe did play a big role as PSG finally found a third, his long-range drive clattering the left-hand post and rebounding into the path of Bernat to rattle home.

What does it mean? – PSG illustrate chasm in class

PSG's slip-up at the weekend proved there are some teams in Ligue 1 that can frustrate them into dropping points – Toulouse are not one of those teams.

Neymar, Mbappe and Messi were sensational in a wondrous display of their attacking quality. If not for Dupe, the scoreline could have been embarrassing for the hosts.

Majestic Messi

Messi may not have gotten on the scoresheet, but his stats are reflective of an utterly outstanding performance the like of which was all too rare in his first season at PSG.

He finished with seven shots, five of which hit the target, played four key passes and set up PSG's first two goals. This was the little magician at his very best.

Dupe defiant

Dupe was a one-man brick wall throughout an incredible effort in between the posts that saw him produce nine saves. He may not have been able to prevent a Toulouse defeat, but his astonishing performance in keeping the score down could prove key in terms of goal difference come the end of the season.

What's next?

PSG visit Nantes on Saturday, before Toulouse travel to Clermont on Sunday.

Dusan Vlahovic scored another sublime free-kick and Arkadiusz Milik opened his Juventus account in a 2-0 Serie A victory over Spezia.

The in-form Vlahovic produced a carbon copy of his stunning strike in the draw against Roma last weekend to put Juve in front at the Allianz Stadium on Wednesday.

New signing Milik came off the bench to seal all three points in stoppage time with a clinical finish.

The Turin giants are unbeaten in four Serie A matches this season, but they suffered another injury blow when Wojciech Szczesny was carried off after landing awkwardly on his ankle in the first half. 

Vlahovic produced another moment of pure class to open the scoring in the ninth minute, bending a sumptous free-kick into the top-right corner of the net from 25 yards out after Juan Cuadrado had been bundled over.

Spezia were struggling to live with the Bianconeri's high tempo, but there was more misfortune for Massimiliano Allegri's side when Szczesny damaged his ankle flapping at a corner and had to be replaced by Mattia Perin.

Cuadrado felt he should have had a penalty in first-half stoppage time, but referee Andrea Colombo adjudged that Petko Hristov made no contact with the Juve captain.

Fabio Miretti turned sharply on the edge of the box and had a shot deflected wide before the fit-again Angel Di Maria and Filip Kostic replaced Cuadrado and Moise Kean early in the second half.

The dangerous Vlahovic came close to a second goal with a downward header that almost crossed the line before Bartlomiej Dragowski palmed the ball to safety.

Danilo should have given Juve breathing space when he fired over the crossbar after bursting into the area, but Milik swivelled in the box after being picked out by a Miretti cross and finished superbly to put the icing on the cake.

 

Tomas Soucek's strike earned West Ham a 1-1 draw against Tottenham and prevented their London rivals from making their best-ever start to a Premier League season after five matches.

Antonio Conte's side led at half-time at London Stadium through a Thilo Kehrer own goal at the end of a slick attacking move from Spurs, who earlier had a penalty awarded and contentiously overturned.

But Soucek fired past Hugo Lloris in the 55th minute to get West Ham back on level terms and the hosts, who brought on club-record signing Lucas Paqueta for his debut, looked the more likely to win the match from that point. 

Despite failing to see out the win, Spurs remain unbeaten on 11 points from five matches, while West Ham are up to four points for the season after recovering from a poor start that saw them lose three straight games without scoring.

Tottenham were awarded a penalty with 11 minutes played when Harry Kane's downward header hit the outstretched arm of Aaron Cresswell.

However, after a lengthy VAR check, referee Peter Bankes reversed the decision seemingly due to the ball hitting Cresswell's head before it touched his arm.

West Ham tested Lloris through Pablo Fornals and Declan Rice attempts either side of that decision, while Michail Antonio curled a shot against the outside of the post.

It was the visitors who took the lead before half-time, though, as Kane's pass into the middle was inadvertently turned home by Kehrer before Son Heung-min could do likewise.

David Moyes' side hit back 10 minutes into the second half as Antonio flicked a throw-in into the path of Soucek, who settled himself before firing past Lloris.

With Pacqueta introduced, West Ham pushed for a winner and went close to finding one when Fornals fired off target from a glorious position in a let-off for the still-unbeaten Spurs.

Ryan Gravenberch and Mathys Tel scored their first Bayern Munich goals as Julian Nagelsmann's side cruised past Viktoria Koln 5-0 in their DFB-Pokal first-round tie.

Signed from Ajax in June, Gravenberch opened his Bayern account 10 minutes before half-time, while 17-year-old Tel – an arrival from Rennes – added a superb second.

Sadio Mane made it 3-0 shortly after the restart with a simple tap-in, before substitute Jamal Musiala added a fourth. 

Leon Goretzka then marked his first appearance of the season with a goal eight minutes from full-time as Bayern swept aside their third-tier opponents with little fuss. 

Viktoria goalkeeper Ben Voll made a string of impressive saves in the opening half-an-hour but he was powerless to prevent Bayern from going ahead in the 35th minute.

The ball fell kindly to Gravenberch just inside the penalty area and he coolly slotted into Voll's bottom-right corner.

Bayern cemented their dominance on the stroke of half-time – Tel cutting in from the left and unleashing a fizzing strike into the far corner.

Mane extended Bayern's advantage in the 53rd minute with a close-range finish after he had been picked out by Serge Gnabry, before Voll made smart stops to deny the former Liverpool man and Musiala. 

The latter was not to be frustrated again in the 67th minute, though, as he slid home after an incisive move involving Thomas Muller. 

Goretzka, on as a substitute, then wrapped up the scoring late on with a crisp finish into the bottom-left corner after a surging run from midfield. 

Gabriel Martinelli got the winner as Arsenal beat Aston Villa 2-1 to maintain their perfect start to the Premier League season.

Douglas Luiz's goal direct from a corner – the Brazil international's second such strike this term – had cancelled out compatriot Gabriel Jesus' first-half opener at Emirates Stadium.

Emiliano Martinez was at fault for Jesus' goal and despite a number of fine saves, attracted the blame again for Martinelli's strike three minutes after Villa's equaliser.

Playing against his former club, Martinez flapped at Martinelli's volley as Arsenal ensured they won five in a row to start a top-flight campaign for only the fourth time in the club's history.

Martinez was on hand to deny Jesus inside ten minutes before a Martin Odegaard effort was blocked by Tyrone Mings.

A deserved Arsenal opener came in the 30th minute – Granit Xhaka's driven cross deflecting off Ezri Konsa and, with Martinez only able to fumble the ball into the path of Jesus, who smashed home.

Villa came out with more purpose in the second half and found the equaliser in remarkable fashion, substitute Douglas Luiz scoring direct from a corner with only his second touch as Aaron Ramsdale's appeals for a foul fell on deaf ears.

But Arsenal's response was swift, Bukayo Saka's right-wing cross finding Martinelli, whose volley had too much power for the scrambling Martinez, inflicting Steven Gerrard's side to a fourth defeat from their five league matches, with Villa fortunate that Arsenal passed up a pair of late chances to further their lead.

Erling Haaland scored a perfect hat-trick inside 38 minutes to make history as Manchester City crushed Nottingham Forest 6-0 at the Etihad Stadium.

Having put City 2-0 up with two early close-range finishes, Haaland converted from John Stones' header to make it nine goals in his first five Premier League matches – a new competition record. 

Joao Cancelo then extended City's lead further with a fine long-range effort, before Julian Alvarez opened his Premier League account with two more goals on his first start.

The dominant win ensured Pep Guardiola's side maintained their unbeaten start to the new season and laid down an ominous marker to any would-be challengers, with the champions now fully up to speed.

Dean Henderson made a reflex save to deny Alvarez six minutes in, but he was rooted to the spot when Haaland poked Phil Foden's deflected cross inside the near post to hand City a 12th-minute lead.

Renan Lodi headed into the side netting when left unmarked five minutes later, and the visitors were made to pay for that miss when Haaland played a fine give-and-go with Foden before rolling into an empty net.

The Norwegian then made it nine goals for the campaign to kill the contest as the break approached, taking advantage of some dire Forest defending to head home on the goal-line following a deep free-kick.

City picked up where they left off after half-time as Cancelo rifled into the top-left corner from the edge of the area, before Alvarez marked his first Premier League start with a goal by finishing low across Henderson when one-on-one.

Haaland was substituted to a standing ovation before Alvarez added his second late on, bringing down a loose ball before volleying into the top-left corner to add further gloss to the scoreline.

Major League Baseball will venture into Mexico City for the first time in 2023 after announcing on Wednesday the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants will play a two-game series in the capital city in April.

The series will take place from April 29-30 at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu, home of the Mexican League's Diablos Rojos, with the Padres serving as the home team.

The 20,000-seater venue was funded by and named after Alfredo Harp Helu, a minority owner of the Padres.

MLB has staged regular-season games in Mexico previously, most recently in 2019, but all have taken place in Monterrey.

The Padres were involved in the first series in Mexico back in 1996 and also hosted a three-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers in Monterrey in 2018.

"The Padres are excited to return to Mexico and play in the first regular-season series in Mexico City in MLB history," Padres CEO Erik Greupner said in a statement.

"We are fortunate to have a loyal and passionate fan base in Mexico, and it will be an honour to showcase our team in Mexico's capital city."

The Padres did participate in the opening of Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu in 2019 by facing the Diablos Rojos in an exhibition game in March of that year.

The Giants will be playing an international series for the first time in franchise history, though San Francisco did travel outside the continental United States for a three-game series with the Montreal Expos in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2004.

"It will be an honour to represent Major League Baseball, as well as San Francisco, at historic Mexico City for the first time ever," Giants president and CEO Larry Baer said.

"We look forward to bringing the Giants and Padres rivalry to a passionate sports fanbase, and it will be a great opportunity to introduce the Giants to an international audience to further develop new fans across all of Mexico."

The most recent MLB regular-season games played internationally came in 2019, when the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox held a two-game series in London.

The Padres had a two-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks scheduled in Mexico City in April 2020, though those games were cancelled by the coronavirus pandemic.

MLB is also set to hold a two-game series between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals in London from June 24-25.

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